Business Opportunities Weblog

July 21, 2008 by Rich Whittle | 1 Comment

iVillage:

Well, ladies, the data is in and it appears that American moms aren’t faring so well.

Oh, we’re doing just fine in our mothering … Our kids adore us and choose us as the person they admire most.

Their test scores are up, and spending time with us is what makes them the happiest. What we are flunking is a critical subject: “How to take care of ourselves.”

This should come as little surprise, but a whopping 96 percent of moms feel they are far more stressed than their own mothers. Reports say moms today are constantly sleep-deprived, caffeine addicted, chronically fatigued and lonely.

So what’s the solution to cure the lonely mom syndrome? It’s time for moms to start up their “Momtourage”: A support group of moms who benefit a specific mother need.

Here are five steps to start your own “Momtourage”:

Identify your “Momtourage” need. Exercising, losing weight, learning a hobby (like knitting or gardening), a book club, meal planning, kid advice. What kind of support do you need?

Find at least one mom who shares your need. A neighbor, relative, church group member, or the mom from your kid’s playgroup, T-ball team, school. Start the search.

Designate a convenient meeting spot. Your home, her home, the library, a playground, the gym, the Internet, or via phone text. (A “Momtourage” does not have to meet face to face.)

Set a consistent meeting time. Try cutting just one activity (that’s an hour a week) that isn’t that crucial. Or do something you already do with another mom. Cook a weekly meal with a mom. Ride bikes with your kids and her kids. Practice T-ball together with your sons or daughters.

Do it! Meet for the first time together via phone, Internet, or face to face and start planning!

A “Momtourage” can meet just about any motherly need. It’s just about actually getting up and putting one together.

Photo by simmbarb.

In Family, Women, Work at Home | 1 Comment